Rescue of man clinging to ledge by Black Hawk helicopter in N.C. captured on video

A mountain climber is recovering after a serious fall near Linville Gorge in Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina on Monday. A helicopter rescue saved the climber's life.

The 23-year-old climber tumbled approximately 50 feet while climbing Shortoff Mountain, a spot known for its rough terrain. A group of people saw him fall and called for help.

Rescuers were unable to reach him by foot. The National Guard sent a Black Hawk helicopter with a four-person crew. By the time it arrived, the man had been clinging to a small ledge on the side of the mountain for more than three hours.

The rescue played out on live television. As the helicopter hovered above, rescuers were able to reach the injured dehydrated man. They attached him to a backboard and hoisted him 150 feet into the helicopter.